Concepts of a Performance-Based Building Regulatory System for the United States.
Concepts of a Performance-Based Building Regulatory
System for the United States.
(862 K)
Meacham, B. J.
International Association for Fire Safety Science. Fire
Safety Science. Proceedings. Fifth (5th) International
Symposium. March 3-7, 1997, Melbourne, Australia, Intl.
Assoc. for Fire Safety Science, Boston, MA, Hasemi, Y.,
Editor(s), 701-712 pp, 1997.
Sponsor:
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD
Keywords:
fire research; fire safety; fire science; performance
based codes; building codes; building design; fire
protection engineering
Abstract:
There is much discussion in the United States regarding
the transition to the use of performance-based codes and
fire safety design methods. To provide a common forum
for discussion on this transition, the Society of Fire
Protection Engineers convened a focus group of
representatives from the United States' fire and
building communities to discuss concepts and components
of a performance-based regulatory system. A conceptual
model, terminology and definitions were distributed to
the group as a basis for discussion. Participants were
asked to provide comments. Preliminary response to the
conceptual model, terminology and definitions was
positive. All comments received were compiled and
distributed to all participants, and a two-day meeting
was convened on 25-26 April 1996 to facilitate
discussion and gain consensus on the future direction
for the United States. This paper will present the
conceptual model and the focus group consensus on the
direction for a performance-based regulatory system in
the United States.
